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the action of Yu Gong； the archer； when he released his master Zi Zhuo； for he determined not to use Zi Zhuo's teaching to kill Zi Zhuo。〃
Guan Yu was indeed a very mountain of goodness and could not forget the great kindness he had received at Cao Cao's hands； and the magnanimity Cao Cao had shown over the deeds at the five passes。 He saw the desperate straits to which his benefactor was reduced； and tears were very near to the eyes of both。 He could not press Cao Cao hard。
He pulled at the bridle of his steed and turned away saying to his followers； 〃Break up the formation！〃
From this it was evident that his design was to release Cao Cao； who then went on with his officers。 When Guan Yu turned to look back； they had all passed。 He uttered a great shout； and Cao Cao's soldiers jumped off their horses and knelt on the ground crying for mercy。 But he also had pity for them。 Then Zhang Liao； whom he knew well； came along and was allowed to go free also。
Cao Cao； his army lost； fled to the Huarong Valley；
There in the throat of the gorge met he Guan Yu。
Grateful was Guan Yu； and mindful of former kindness；
Wherefore slipped he the bolt and freed the imprisoned dragon。
Having escaped this danger； Cao Cao hastened to get out of the valley。 As the throat opened out； he glanced behind him and saw only forty…seven horsemen。 As evening fell； they reached Jiangling； and they came upon an army that they took to be more enemies。
Cao Cao thought the end had surely e； but to his delight they were his own soldiers and he regained all his confidence。
Cao Ren； who was the leader； said； 〃I heard of your misfortunes； my lord； but I was afraid to venture far from my charge； else I would have met you before。〃
〃I thought I would never see you again；〃 said Cao Cao。
The fugitives found repose in the city； where Zhang Liao soon joined them。 He also praised the magnanimity of Guan Yu。
When Cao Cao mustered the miserable remnant of his officers； he found nearly all were wounded and he bade them rest。 Cao Ren poured the wine of consolation whereby his master might forget his sorrows。
As Cao Cao drank among his familiars； he became exceedingly sad。
Wherefore they said； 〃O Prime Minister； when you were in the cave of the tiger and trying to escape； you showed no sign of sorrow。 Now that you are safe in a city； where you have food and the horses have forage； where all you have to do is to prepare for revenge； suddenly you lose heart and grieve。 Why thus？〃
Replied Cao Cao； 〃I am thinking of my friend Guo Jia： Had he been alive； he would not have let me suffer this loss。〃
He beat his breast and wept； saying； 〃Alas for Guo Jia！ I grieve for Guo Jia！ I sorrow for Guo Jia！〃
The reproach shamed the advisers； who were silent。
Next day Cao Cao called Cao Ren and said； 〃I am going to the capital to prepare another army for revenge。 You are to guard this region and； in case of necessity； I leave with you a sealed plan。 You are only to open the cover when hard…pressed； and then you are to act as directed。 The South Land will not dare to look this way。〃
〃Who is to guard Hefei and Xiangyang？〃
〃Jingzhou is particularly your care； and Xiahou Dun is to hold Xiangyang。 As Hefei is most important； I am sending Zhang Liao thither with good aids of Li Dian and Yue Jing。 If you get into difficulties； send at once to tell me。〃
Having made these dispositions； Cao Cao set off at once with a few followers。 He took with him the officers who had e over to his side when Jingzhou fell into his hands。
Cao Ren placed Cao Hong in charge of Yiling and Jiangling。
After having allowed the escape of Cao Cao； Guan Yu found his way back to headquarters。 By this time the other detachments had returned bringing spoil of horses and weapons and supplies of all kinds。 Only Guan Yu came back empty…handed。 When he arrived； Zhuge Liang was with his brother congratulating him on his success。 When Guan Yu was announced； Zhuge Liang got up and went to wele him； bearing a cup of wine。
〃Joy！ O General；〃 said Zhuge Liang。 〃You have done a deed that overtops the world。 You have removed the empire's worst foe and ought to have been met at a distance and felicitated。〃
Guan Yu muttered inaudibly； and Zhuge Liang continued； 〃I hope it is not because we have omitted to wele you on the road that you seem sad。〃
Turning to those about him； Zhuge Liang said； 〃Why did you not tell us Guan Yu was ing？〃
〃I am here to ask for death；〃 said Guan Yu。
〃Surely Cao Cao came through the valley？〃
〃Yes； he came that way； and I could not help it。 I let him go。〃
〃Then whom have you captured？〃
〃No one。〃
〃Then you remembered the old kindness of Cao Cao and so allowed him to escape。 But your acceptance of the task with its conditions is here。 You will have to suffer the penalty。〃
Zhuge Liang called in the lictors and told them to take away Guan Yu and put him to death。
Guan Yu risked life when he spared
Cao Cao in direst need；
And age…long admiration gained
For kindly deed。
What actually befell will he seen in the next chapter。
Main Next to Chapter 51 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Cao Ren Fights The South Land's Troops；
Zhuge Liang Angers Zhou Yu。
Guan Yu would have died there but for his elder brother； who said to Zhuge Liang； 〃We three pledged ourselves to live and die together。 Although my brother Guan Yu has offended； I cannot bear to break our oath。 I hope you will only record this against him and let him atone later for the fault by some specially meritorious service。〃
So the sentence was remitted。
In the meantime； Zhou Yu mustered his officers and called over his soldiers； noted the special services of each； and sent full reports to his master。 The soldiers who had surrendered were all transported across the river。 All this done they spread the feast of victory。
The next step was to attack and capture Nanjun。 The van of the army camped on the river bank。 There were five camps and the mander…in…Chief's tent was in the center。 He summoned his officers to a council。 At this moment Sun Qian arrived with congratulations from Liu Bei。
Zhou Yu received him and； having saluted in proper form； Sun Qian said； 〃My lord sent me on this special mission to felicitate the General on his great virtue and offer some unworthy gifts。〃
〃Where is Liu Bei？〃 asked Zhou Yu。
〃He is now encamped at Youkou； the mouth of River You。〃
〃Is Zhuge Liang there？〃 asked Zhou Yu； taken aback。
〃Both are there；〃 said Sun Qian。
〃Then return quickly； and I will e in person to thank them。〃
The presents handed over； Sun Qian was sent back forthwith to his own camp。 Then Lu Su asked Zhou Yu why he had started when he heard where Liu Bei was camped。
〃Because；〃 replied Zhou Yu； 〃camping at the mouth of River You means that he has the intention of taking Nanjun。 Having spent much military energy and spared no expenditure； we thought the territory should fall to us easily。 Those others are opposed to us； and they wish to get the advantage of what we have already acplished。 However； they must remember that I am not dead yet。〃
〃How can you prevent them？〃 asked Lu Su。
〃I will go myself and speak with them。 If all goes well； then； let it be so。 In case it does not； then I shall immediately settle up with Liu Bei without waiting for Nanjun to be taken。〃
〃I should like to acpany you；〃 said Lu Su。
The General and his friend started； taking with them a guard of three thousand light horse。 Having arrived at Youkou； they sought out Sun Qian； who； in turn； went in to see Liu Bei and told him Zhou Yu had e to render thanks。
〃Why has he e？〃 asked Liu Bei of his Directing Instructor。
〃He is not likely to e out of simple politeness。 Surely he has e in connection with Nanjun。〃
〃But if he brings an army； can we stand against it？〃 asked Liu Bei。
〃When he es； you may reply thus and thus。〃
Then they drew up the warships in the river and ranged the soldiers upon the bank。 When the arrival of Zhou Yu was formally announced； Zhao Yun； with some horsemen； went to wele him。 When Zhou Yu saw what bold soldiers they looked； he began to feel unfortable； but he went on his way。 Being met at the camp gates by Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang； he was taken in to the chief tent； where the ceremonies were performed and preparations for a banquet had been made。
Presently Liu Bei raised his cup in felicitation on the recent victory gained by his guest。 The banquet proceeded。
After a few more courses Zhou Yu said； 〃Of course you are camped here with no other idea than to take Nanjun？〃
Liu Bei said； 〃We heard you were going to take the place and came to assist。 Should you not take it； then we will occupy it。〃
Zhou Yu laughed； saying； 〃We of the South Land have long wished for this territory。 Now that it is within our grasp； we naturally shall take it。〃
Liu Bei said； 〃There is always some uncertainty。 Cao Cao left Cao Ren to guard the region； and you may be certain that there is good strategy behind Cao Ren； to say nothing of his boldness as a warrior。 I fear you may not get it。〃
〃Well； if we do not take it then； Sir； you may have it；〃 said Zhou Yu。
〃Here are witnesses to your words；〃 said Liu Bei； naming Lu Su； Zhuge Liang； and those at table。 〃I hope you will never repent what you have just said。〃
Lu Su stammered and seemed unwilling to be cited as one of the witnesses； but Zhou Yu said； 〃When the word of a noble person has gone forth； it is ended。 He never regrets。〃
〃This speech of yours； Sir； is very generous；〃 interjected Zhuge Liang。 〃The South Land shall try first。 But if the place does not fall； there is no reason why my lord should not capture it。〃
The two visitors then took their leave and rode away。
As soon as they had left； Liu Bei turned to Zhuge Liang and said； 〃O Master； you bade me thus reply to Zhou Yu。 But though I did so； I have turned it over and over in my mind without finding any reason in what I said。 I am alone and weak； without a single foot of land to call my own。 I desired to get possession of Nanjun that I might have； at least； a temporary shelter； yet I have said that Zhou Yu may attack it first。 If it falls to the South Land； how can I get possession？〃
Zhuge Liang laughed and replied； 〃First I advised you to attack Jingzhou； but you would not listen。 Do you remember？〃
〃But it belonged to Liu Biao； and I could not bear to attack it then。 Now it belongs to Cao Cao； I might do so。〃
〃Do not be anxious；〃 replied the adviser。 〃Let Zhou Yu go and attack it。 Some day； my lord； I shall make you sit in the high place thereof。〃
〃But what design have you？〃
〃So and so；〃 said Zhuge Liang； whispering。
Liu Bei was satisfied with the reply； and only strengthened his position at Youkou。
In the meantime Zhou Yu and Lu Su returned to their own camp； and the latter said； 〃Why did you tell Liu Bei that he might attack Nanjun？〃
〃I can take it with a flick of my finger；〃 replied Zhou Yu； 〃but I just manifested a little pretended kindliness。〃
Then he inquired among his officers for a volunteer to attack the city。 Jiang Qin offered himself； and was put in mand of the vanguard； with Xu Sheng and Ding Feng as helpers。 He was given five thousand of veterans； and they moved across the river。 Zhou Yu promised to follow with supports。
On the other side Cao Ren ordered Cao Hong to guard Yiling； and so hold one corner of an ox…horn defense。
When the news came that the South Land's force had crossed the River Han； Cao Ren said； 〃We will defend and not offer battle。〃
But General Niu Jin said impetuously； 〃To let the enemy approach the walls and not offer battle is timidity。 Our troops； lately worsted； need heartening and must show their mettle。 Let me have five hundred of veterans； and I will fight to a finish。〃
Cao Ren could not withstand this offer； and so the five hundred went out of the city。 At once Ding Feng came to challenge the leader； and they fought a few bouts。 Then Ding Feng pretended to be defeated； gave up the fight； and retreated into his own lines。 Niu Jin followed him hard。 When he had got within the South Land's formation； at a signal from Ding Feng； the army closed round and Niu Jin was surrounded。 He pushed right and left； but could find no way out。 Seeing Niu Jin in the toils； Cao Ren； who had watched the fight from the wall； donned his armor and came out of the city at the head of his own bold pany of horsemen and burst in among the forces of the South Land to try to rescue his colleague。 Beating back Xu Sheng； Cao Ren fought his way in and presently rescued Niu Jin。
However； having got out； Cao Ren saw several score of horsemen still in the middle unable to make their way out； whereupon he turned again to the battle and dashed in to their rescue。 This time he met Jiang Qin on whom Cao Ren and Niu Jin made a violent attack。 Then his brother Cao Chun came up with supports； and the great battle ended in a defeat for the troops of the South Land。
So Cao Ren went back victor； while the unhappy Jiang Qin returned to report his failure。 Zhou Yu was very angry and would have put to death his hapless subordinate but for the intervention of the other officers。 Then Zhou Yu prepared for another attack where he himself would lead。
But Gan Ning said； 〃General； do not be in too great hurry。 Let me go first and attack Yiling； the supporting angle of the ox…horn formation。 After that the conquest of Nan